# NTSB FTW86LA134: Aeronca 7AC, N83847, Plano, TX, July 20, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1986, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Plano, TX
- Coordinates: 32.789783, -96.819099 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7898&lon=-96.8191&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22061
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86LA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22061/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86LA134

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - not possible, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - stall - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT TRIED TWICE TO ROTATE THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT LIFTED OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. AT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED VEERING TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, STALLED AND NOSED DOWN IMPACTING THE GROUND. PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT A WITNESS OBSERVED TWO HEAVY SET MEN (APRX 250 LBS. EACH) ENTER THE AIRCRAFT. THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT IS 1220 LBS. EMPTY WEIGHT IS 800 LBS. COMBINED WEIGHT OF BOTH FUEL AND OIL IS APRX 108 LBS. TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AT TAKEOFF WAS APRX 1,408 LBS., OR 188 LBS. OVER GROSS WEIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83847](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83847-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 7AC-2528, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7AC-2528
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joe Floyd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1986
- Airport: F26, Plano, runway 16, 3,100 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 760 total, 140 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ADS, 10 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860720047009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860720047009A), Jul 20, 1986: Bbavia 7AC, Plano, TX, Substantial damage. Stalled aircraft in an attempt to return to the runway aircraft was over maximum gross takeoff weight.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.